The Canadian and British Columbian governments may wish to ignore perceived treaty violations of the Site C Dam project, but this determined group of people will not let them. Their bus left Ken and Arlene Boon’s farm, in the Peace River Valley, Monday. They want to be present when a Federal judge hears the West Moberly and Prophet River First Nations argue that this BC Hydro project infringes on their constitutionally protected rights to hunt, fish and trap the lands that will be submerged. The Treaty 8 Justice for the Peace Caravan will arrive in Montreal Sunday.
More than 1,000 British Columbians participated what appears to be more off a spin exercise than a “poll.” Though critics constantly point to the lack of need, respondents to the BC Hydro commissioned survey were asked if they supported the dam “to help meet the rising demand for electricity in B.C.” Despite this, unconditional support for the controversial project has dropped to 49%. The poll finds opposition to Site C growing.
Bavaria’s Sylvensteinspeicher (Sylvenstein Dam) has two power plants whose combined electrical capacity is 7 MW (26 GWh a year). Andreas Bauer, of the Regional state office for water management in Weilheim, says that while they are happy to produce electricity, this is a byproduct. The earthen embankment dam’s main purpose is to withstand floods, and retain enough water to keep servicing the surrounding area during droughts. This facility has withstood a number of extreme weather events during its’ 56 year history. The Sylvensteinspeicher, operated by the Regional state office for water management in Weilheim as part of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection, is an example of how dams can protect us from Climate Change.
